One of my favorite musicals of all time is "The Sound of Music." I've seen that movie countless times. In fact, as a little girl I didn't even know it was called "The Sound of Music." I grew up calling it, "Mom's favorite movie." One of the songs from the musical is entitled, "I Have Confidence." Upon first watching it's usually one of the pieces that is easily forgotten sized up against, "My Favorite Things," Sixteen Going on Seventeen," and "Climb Every Mountain." However, recently I've come to love that song and everything it stands for. Most importantly, I've learned that I too, have confidence.
I have confidence in my education. I have studied, laboured, stretched and sweat towards earning a degree that I can be proud of. Most importantly, I believe, I have learned how to learn. Because of the home I grew up in, I have always had a passion for reading, and that has fed my continuous desire to learn, even if that desire will never extend towards picking up another math or science book again. Ever.
I have confidence in my ability to appear and act professional. I've been noticing a gradual change towards appearing more mature and ready to enter an adult world. I've been slowly ditching the dozens of t-shirts in my drawers, wearing more shirts with collars or sweaters. For the past year now I've established my own business complete with a license, my own contract, references, and portfolio of contented clients. I'm learning to stand tall and speak up, even if it is to someone three times my age.
I have confidence in my charismatic personality. One of the best gifts I have been given is the ability to be pleasantly amiable. I used to think that it was just because I'm pretty, and I used it mostly to my advantage in the dating game, often going on several dates a week. Yesterday however, in a personal revelation, I realized that I have been given this gift of charity and an immense passion for life to bless others. I've always known I have a bubbly personality, but I've finally made the connection that it is a gift. I can lift others all around me in a very short amount of time. What a blessing. I am understanding more now what it means to "mourn with those that mourn, [and] comfort those that stand in need of comfort." -Mosiah 18: 9
Finally, I have confidence in my knowledge the Savior, and of his divine Atonement. I have always understood and known that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins and transgressions. I know that by coming to Him and dropping my burden at his feet I can be clean. But my true and most fervent understanding of the Atonement occurred about a year and a half ago, in July of 2007. I had reached a point in my life where I had to choose what was more important to me: The despair I felt from my consistently bad choices, or the embarrassment of confessing them and following the Lord no matter what the painful consequences might be. I remember thinking, "Nothing could be worse than the way I feel right now. I want to be healed. I've had enough." And then two very distinct phrases came into my mind. One was by Neil L. Anderson stating, "It's true isn't it? Then what else matters?" The other was from the hymn, "I Believe in Christ" stating, "I believe in Christ, so come what may." I knew that I had made my choice. I took everything I believed in and stepped into the dark, not knowing what I would have to face for my previous decisions. The transformation was miraculous. I knew the Savior suffered for my sins, but now I also knew and understood that Christ suffered for my pains too. He literally took it all away, and I felt the immense burden of my condemnation released. I am clean. Every wit. I know that all of us as children of our Heavenly Father have the ability to feel that change. I know because I have felt it believing like Alma that I was "the very vilest of sinners." Yet through Christ, I am "harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more." What has taken the place of all of that guilt and sorrow is love. And because I am filled with love, "as you can see I have Confidence in me!"
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, October 27, 2008
Marriage, and Some Views on Prop 8
I've had this blog for a little while, but haven't known what to write about. Well, now that I've been engaged for a little over a week, I've been contemplating a lot on the sanctity of marriage and how significant it truly is. That being said, I finally know what to write about first.
As stated in the "Family: A Proclamation to the World," "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God." I know this to be true. I know that we have inspired leaders who gave us this remarkable council years before the calamities and attacks we are now faced with on the sanctity of marriage arose. We have known for over a decade now the principles taught in this sacred document. As I prepare to be married in early May, I have begun a careful study of this document in order to better understand my calling as a woman, wife, and future mother. As I have studied I have gained an immense appreciation for the divine calling of both the husband and the wife. Each of their roles is essential to the sustaining of a healthy and wonderful family.
Why is this so important today? First of all, divorce rates are disturbingly high in our current civilization. Many couples believe that getting married is great and wonderful, but isn't it nice to know that when things get a little hard, there's always the back door of divorce to escape through? Even worse is when a couple decides that before they make the significant leap into marriage, it is acceptable to embark in a "trial" period by simply living together. On top of that, many of these latter couples have a child out of wedlock, confusing the child from its very birth. How tragic that this has become the norm in society. It is child abuse to not give a proper home to a sweet, beautiful infant, who came into this world perfect and divine. That child deserves a family to be raised in, where he or she is nurtured and treasured by a loving mother, and honored and strengthened by an adoring father. This is God's plan, and it is perfect.
The culminating and most disgusting attack on the family today is now the subject of great debate in California, and the rest of the United States: that of legalizing same sex marriage. What a despicable idea that destroys everything the family stands for. Same sex marriage is a pinpoint attack on the family. It destroys the very center of God's plan. It is stating that mankind doesn't care about the Lord, and that they have every right to be selfish and choose to revel in their own terrible choices. Regardless of how the world views homosexuals, the Lord does not approve and does not honor it. It is contrary to his plan. Why do you think he created males and females in such a way so as to create a physical bond between them strong enough that they can literally fit together and become "one flesh?" To arose those same chemical feelings with two members of the same sex is a foolish mockery providing only temporary satisfaction. It is disturbing and wrong.
While it is understandable that same sex attraction is real and can be a powerful temptation in a person's life, that does not make it excusable nor give it the right to be tolerated. As a Latter-Day-Saint, I have been taught to love the sinner, but hate the sin. Just as an alcoholic struggles with putting down the bottle, so should the man or women who struggles with same sex attraction. We do not roll out the red carpet to the alcoholic and allow him to drink to his heart's content with no consequences. Rather we rally behind him, give him support to quit the terrible habit that is ruining his life, and punish inappropriate behavior. We invite him to change, and to free himself from the awful chain that is his addiction to alcohol. Why is a homosexual any different? It is a very real temptation, but embracing it, and then enforcing a law on others to embrace it is madness. It is as disturbing as creating a law allowing a sex-offender the right to walk around a school full of young children as often as he would like, and sue the parents that attempt to pull their child out of class.
If Proposition 8 isn't passed, religions may be sued for their belief in not honoring same sex marriage. Books will be read to children embracing the concept of homosexual relationships. Adoption agencies that do not support same sex marriage will have to withdraw their services or be forced to allow an innocent child to be given to an unethical relationship. It will have devastating consequences. We can and should love those who struggle with same sex attraction, but we can not and should not embrace their sinful choices. No matter what the world says, it will not change the fact that God's law is universal, and he will not be mocked.
As stated in the "Family: A Proclamation to the World," "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God." I know this to be true. I know that we have inspired leaders who gave us this remarkable council years before the calamities and attacks we are now faced with on the sanctity of marriage arose. We have known for over a decade now the principles taught in this sacred document. As I prepare to be married in early May, I have begun a careful study of this document in order to better understand my calling as a woman, wife, and future mother. As I have studied I have gained an immense appreciation for the divine calling of both the husband and the wife. Each of their roles is essential to the sustaining of a healthy and wonderful family.
Why is this so important today? First of all, divorce rates are disturbingly high in our current civilization. Many couples believe that getting married is great and wonderful, but isn't it nice to know that when things get a little hard, there's always the back door of divorce to escape through? Even worse is when a couple decides that before they make the significant leap into marriage, it is acceptable to embark in a "trial" period by simply living together. On top of that, many of these latter couples have a child out of wedlock, confusing the child from its very birth. How tragic that this has become the norm in society. It is child abuse to not give a proper home to a sweet, beautiful infant, who came into this world perfect and divine. That child deserves a family to be raised in, where he or she is nurtured and treasured by a loving mother, and honored and strengthened by an adoring father. This is God's plan, and it is perfect.
The culminating and most disgusting attack on the family today is now the subject of great debate in California, and the rest of the United States: that of legalizing same sex marriage. What a despicable idea that destroys everything the family stands for. Same sex marriage is a pinpoint attack on the family. It destroys the very center of God's plan. It is stating that mankind doesn't care about the Lord, and that they have every right to be selfish and choose to revel in their own terrible choices. Regardless of how the world views homosexuals, the Lord does not approve and does not honor it. It is contrary to his plan. Why do you think he created males and females in such a way so as to create a physical bond between them strong enough that they can literally fit together and become "one flesh?" To arose those same chemical feelings with two members of the same sex is a foolish mockery providing only temporary satisfaction. It is disturbing and wrong.
While it is understandable that same sex attraction is real and can be a powerful temptation in a person's life, that does not make it excusable nor give it the right to be tolerated. As a Latter-Day-Saint, I have been taught to love the sinner, but hate the sin. Just as an alcoholic struggles with putting down the bottle, so should the man or women who struggles with same sex attraction. We do not roll out the red carpet to the alcoholic and allow him to drink to his heart's content with no consequences. Rather we rally behind him, give him support to quit the terrible habit that is ruining his life, and punish inappropriate behavior. We invite him to change, and to free himself from the awful chain that is his addiction to alcohol. Why is a homosexual any different? It is a very real temptation, but embracing it, and then enforcing a law on others to embrace it is madness. It is as disturbing as creating a law allowing a sex-offender the right to walk around a school full of young children as often as he would like, and sue the parents that attempt to pull their child out of class.
If Proposition 8 isn't passed, religions may be sued for their belief in not honoring same sex marriage. Books will be read to children embracing the concept of homosexual relationships. Adoption agencies that do not support same sex marriage will have to withdraw their services or be forced to allow an innocent child to be given to an unethical relationship. It will have devastating consequences. We can and should love those who struggle with same sex attraction, but we can not and should not embrace their sinful choices. No matter what the world says, it will not change the fact that God's law is universal, and he will not be mocked.
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